Car-coupling



(No Model.)

GAR GOUPLING,

WITNESSES J 0C l VVEJVTOR @7 ya. gw'

vttarmgy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. COLBY CLAY, OF WELLS, NEVADA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION fOrming part OfLettrS Patent NO. 343,434, dated June 8,1886.

Application filed October 26, 1885. Serial No. 180,90'6'. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. CoLBY CLAY, a citizen of the United States,residingat WVells, in the county of Elko, State of Nevada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which thefollowing isa specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates yto certain improvements in car-couplers; and ithas for its object to provide a coupler which will automatically connectwhen the cars come together, and which may loe uncoupled from eitherside or the top of the car, and thus render it unnecessary to passbetween the cars for the purpose of coupling and uncoupling, thusavoiding` the danger attendant thereupon. These obj ects I attain by themeans illustrated in the'accompanying drawings, in which Figure lrepresents a perspective view of one end of a car, showing my improvedcoupler applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal verticalsectional view of two cars, showing my improved couplers connected; and

v Fig. 3 representsa detached View of the coupler.

The letter A indicates a draw-bar, which is secured between the blocksor supports B, attached to the under side of the car, near one end, therear end of said bar passing through opening in the plate D, which arelocated in recesses in the blocks B, the forward plate bearing against ashoulder on the draw-bar, and being pressed normally forward by aspring, C, holding the draw-bar with it. The forward end of the draw-baris bifurcated, and has pivoted between its ends a frame, E,which at itsforward end is provided with a hook, F, which is turned downward. Thishook is on the under side of frame E, and is the means, in connectionwith a similar frame and hook ou'the car to be attached,whereby the carsmay be coupled. The hook is wedgeshapedthat is to say, it tapers fromthe point back to the shoulder, the shoulder constituting the hookproper. The ends of the hooks being pointed or wedge-shaped, it followsthat when two cars are brought into contact onehook will slip over theother and automatically engage with its shoulder,the link or frame Ethuscoupling the two cars. The outer end of the hook is provided with anopening, E', which is to be employed in connection with an ordinarycoupling-pin, whereby my coupling may be united to a car provided withan ordinary pinand-link draw-head. The forward end of the draw-barpasses over a cross-bar, G, which is secured to the hangers H,dependingfrom the car, the said cross-bar forming a support for the draw-bar andits pivoted frame, preventing the latter from droppingtoo low,andholding the hooks in proper position for engagement. y

To either side of the end of the car is pivoted a lever, I, to the innerend of which is secured one end of a chain, K, the other end of which issecured to the pivoted frame E, whereby the frame may be elevated touncouple the cars without passing between them.

The letter L indicates a rod connected to said frame and extending tothe top of the car for a similar purpose..

The operation of my invention will be readily perceived. When the carscome together, the beveled ends of the hooks ride past each other andthe hooks automatically connect, coupling the4 cars. To uncouple thecars,it is only necessary to elevate the upper frame, E, by means of thelevers or vertical rod.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim,and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

A car-coupler consisting of the bifurcated draw-head A, the U-shapedframe pivoted therein, said frame being provided on its outer under endwith a wedge-shaped block with inner shoulder constituting a hook, saidblock or hook being provided with an opening, F, substantially asdescribed, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. GOLBY CLAY. Witnesses:

IsAAo S. WEYAND, Jos. L. HONEYMAN.

